We’re often requested if the islands are value visiting throughout the wintertime, which virtually means from November to March for Greece. Nevertheless, during the last years, an effort has been made by official authorities and personal firms to develop the vacationer interval in Greece, formally lasting from April by means of October. This has encouraging but restricted outcomes so far.
Apart from Santorini, which has managed to develop cruise ship arrivals from March to November, the remainder of the Greek islands stay fairly quiet throughout the winter season.
Right here is all the reality concerning the Greek islands in winter and why you need to or mustn’t pay a go to at the moment of the yr. Whether or not or not it’s value visiting them… we depart it as much as you!
Lodges and taverns shut down
The final vacationers have left the Greek islands till the center of October. Round then, many locals shut down their companies, as solely everlasting inhabitants are left to spend winter in solitude. Lodges, taverns, memento retailers, and journey companies stay closed till early April, particularly on small islands. Some giant islands, like Corfu, Rhodes, and Crete, are comparatively full of life because of their giant inhabitants, however the majority of the islands are small and, due to this fact, have a couple of many years or lots of of residents throughout the offseason.
Fewer ferry schedules
Because the Greek islands are sparsely populated in winter, the ferry schedules lower between October and April. Routes are usually not so frequent and a few connections between islands are time-consuming and never handy. Some strains and routes don’t even function in winter, as passenger site visitors is low.
Chilly and moist climate
Normally, it hardly ever snows within the Greek islands and southern Greece. Nevertheless, it’s normally chilly in winter, particularly in January and February, when the temperature can attain 0-5oC. In southern Greek islands, like Crete or Rhodes, the temperature is hotter (about 10oC on common) and rain is a uncommon phenomenon, however within the Ionian Islands, similar to Corfu, it rains loads in winter.
The Cyclades, within the heart of the Aegean Sea, are often affected by northern winds that may be very sturdy throughout winter. Such winds generally end in ferry or aircraft cancellations.
So, is there something to do on the Greek islands in winter?
To sum up, visiting the Greek islands in winter is generally a job for impartial vacationers. No excursions will probably be accessible and only a few accommodations will probably be open, largely situated in central spots. Nearly all of vacationer companies will probably be closed and ferry itineraries will probably be restricted. Certainly, you’ll solely be swimming within the sea if you’re a winter swimmer, because the temperature will probably be low.
So, what’s left to do within the Greek islands in winter? So simple as it might sound, what you are able to do is definitely expertise the laid-back and genuine life-style. Life within the Greek islands in winter has nothing in frequent with winter life in giant cities around the globe. It has one thing very completely different and particular. Guests can take pleasure in lengthy, calm days of speaking with the locals and mountain climbing throughout stunning nature.
Some islands, like Kea, Ikaria, and Kefalonia, even provide agrotourism items the place guests can have interaction in agricultural actions, similar to jam-making, olive gathering, wine urgent, and extra.
Which islands to go to offseason?
Our suggestion is to go to giant or medium-sized islands in winter.
Crete, Rhodes, and Corfu could be good selections as they’ve accommodations, eating places, and vacationer companies that work all yr spherical. The ferry and aircraft connection from Athens to those islands is each day and really handy.
In case you want much more secluded choices, give a attempt to small islands of the Cyclades, similar to Paros, Naxos, or Sifnos.
Even Santorini will probably be superbly secluded in winter, with virtually no vacationers and all its pure magnificence solely at your ft!
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